TULUNAN, Cotabato Province (PIA) — The Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) recently provided insurance coverage to 476 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARB) from the Blaan indigenous people (IP) in Barangay Bacong of this municipality.
According to Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer Evangeline Bueno, the PCIC and the Philippine Coconut Authority jointly implement the free insurance for coconut farmers under their Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan.
“DAR is closely collaborating with other government agencies, such as the PCA and PCIC, to intensify the delivery of support services interventions to make the CARP-covered lands productive, to protect them, or at least lessen the impact of risks and losses in their livelihood,” Bueno stated.
DAR-Cotabato also advised the beneficiaries to report to the PCIC within 72 hours of crop damage.
The extent of crop damage determines the amount each beneficiary will receive.
As part of the requirements, ARBs must also register with the PCA’s National Coconut Farmers Registry System.
Meanwhile, Barangay Chairperson Victor Acac expressed gratitude for the opportunity given to his tribe.
“This is the first time that many IPs have availed crop insurance,” he said, hoping that this program will continue to insure more ARBs.
Aside from crop insurance, the ARBs also took advantage of the PCIC’s life insurance, which ranged from P20,000 to P100,000.
Life insurance covers the insured’s death or dismemberment as a result of an accident under the PCIC’s Accident and Dismemberment Security Scheme. (With reports from DARMO Tulunan)
